Fishing appliance



Feb. 6, 1951 L. F. CROOK FISHING APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1949 Invmlur Lee Fflroak Patented Feb. 6, 19 51 UNITED- STATES I PATENT, orrica v FISHING APPLIANCE Lee F. Crook, Salisbury, N. 0.

Application May 4, 1949, Serial No. 91,300

This invention relates to a novel appliance or device for use in fishing and which is primarily intended and adapted for use as a casting device to maintain the fishhooks out of contact with the bottom of a body of water and while the device is be ng retrieved along the bottom to thereby eliminate snagging of the fishhooks on bottom obstructions and loss of the hooks and fishing line. a

More particularly, it is an aim of thepresent invention to provide a device having a weighted runner formovement along the bottom and buoyant means for maintaining the device in an upright position for supporting the-hooks carried thereby in an elevated position at all times and to insure that the bottom portion of the runner will assume a lowermost position as soon as the device is submerged and will maintain this position whilez the device sinks to the bottom and while it is drawn therealong.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fishing appliance which is well adapted for use forany bottom fishing for supporting the fishhooks at a predetermined level above the bottom to eliminate all danger of snagging the fishhooks or a fishing sinker.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforedescribed character which may be made in various sizes and which may be quickly and easily attached to the fishing line and will provide a self-contained unit including hooks and sinker.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforedescribed character which maybe very economically manufactured and sold and which will be extremely efficient and durable for accomplishing its intended purposes.

various othe objects and advantages of the invention Twill hereinafter become more fully aoparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l-is a side elevational view showing the fishing device in the normal position which it will assume when in use;

Figure g i s an end elevational vlewthereof, and

4 Claims. (01. 4343.15)'

I and corresponding upwardly curved end portions Figure ails a cross sectional view of the appliance taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the fishing appliance in its entirety is designated generally 5 and includes a strand of relatively heavy gauge wire, designated generally 8 having a substantially straight intermediate portion I 8, each of which is preferably longer than. the intermediate portion I and which end portions 8 terminate at their upper, free ends in eyes a which are disposed at the same level above the portion I. Said portion I- is provided adjacent its ends with enlargements I0 which may be suit; ably secured thereto o formed integral there with and which provide Weighted elements or sinkers and which may be formed of lead. 1

A strand I I, preferably of nylon line extends between the "eyes 9 and has its end portions I2 suitably tied or otherwise fastened thereto and so that the line II will be substantially taut. A plurality of conventional swivels I3 are suitably fastened to the line II in longitudinally spaced relationship to one another and depend downwardly therefrom and a conventional flshhook I I is attached to the depending end of each swivel I3 for supporting the fishhooks beneath the line I I and above or spaced from the runner portions I and 8.

A buoyant member or float such as a cork sphere I5 is preferably secured to each upturned wire end B beneath and adjacent its eye 9 or said floats I5 may be attached to the line I I or otherwise disposed above the level of the sinkers or weights I0.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that an end of a fishing line may be attached to either eye 9 of the fishing appliance 5 after which and assuming that the hooks I4 are suitably baited, the device 5 may be cast in a conventional manner and upon striking the water the weights or sinkers III will cause the device 5 to sink to the bottom in an upright position as seen in Figures 1 and 2 so that the sinkers I0, which are elongated and tapered toward their ends will engage the bottom l6 and possibly together with the intermediate runner portion I. The device 5 will be held in this upright position by the floats I5 so that the hooks I4 will be disposed substantially above the level of the bottom I6 to prevent their being snagged while the device 5 is being retrieved along the bottom. During the retrieving operation the ,yveights Ill and portion 1 will function similar to a sled runner for riding over the bottom I5 and the upwardly curved end portions 8 will cause thefrunner to readily ride over obstructions and to enable it to be easily retrieved.

It will also be readilyapparent that the device 5 may be used for still fishing on the bottom of a body of water ands/111 efiiciently function to maintain the hooks I4. -a-t a desired level above the bottom to prevent them from snagging on oyster shells or other bottom obstructions.

above the level of said weighted intermediate portion and beneath the hook supporting member, and float means mounted on one of said members above the level of said intermediate portion for maintaining the runner in. substan-- tially a vertioal plane when submerged in a body at water and with-said intermediate; portion resting on the, bottom.

2. A. fishing device of the character described comprising an elongated non-buoyant member havinga substantially straight intermediate portionzand upwardly curved ends, a hook supporting member attached-tov the terminals. of said upwardly extending ends and extending there- 30 between, hooks carried by said hook supporting member between said terminals and float means mounted on one of said members adjacent said hook supporting member.

3. A fishing device as in claim 2, said elongated member having eyes at the ends thereof, and said hook supporting member comprising a flexible strand secured at its ends to said eyes.

4. A fishing device as in claim 2, said elongated" member having eyes at the ends thereof, said hook supporting member comprising a flexiblestrand secured at its ends to said eyes, and said float means comprising float members fixedly mounted on said upwardly extending ends beneath and adjacent said eyes.

LEE F. CROOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Y I Date are of record in the Number Name a "523,561 White V -r July 24., 1894 1,589,522 Felix June 22, 1926 2,054,407 Campbell Sept. 15, 1936 2,157,819 Eckert ..a May 9, 1939 2,173,511 Bertelli et a1 Sept-.19, 1939 238N329 Finn -4-.- NOV. 8.1949 

